Investigation launched into missing N. Franklin records

North Franklin Township police are investigating the disappearance of records from the township building, some of them dating back to 2008.

Township supervising Chairman Alex Migyanko said it appears the records, including planning commission and personnel files, appear to have been stolen earlier this year.

“It’s very upsetting,” said Migyanko, who announced the investigation at a supervisors’ meeting Wednesday.

He said he discovered the problem at a public hearing and asked the township secretary in early August to alert police Sgt. Dean Urbanic.

“Sergeant Urbanic is handling the matter and he will contact the propery authorities during the course of the investigation,” an internal memo sent to township supervisors said.

Migyanko said he didn’t want “to elaborate on” what is missing from the business office.

He said there is video surveillance of the township parking lot, which could help the investigation.

The initial Aug. 5 memo to supervisors asked them to return any township records they might have and further states 2012 and 2013 records of former solicitor Dennis Makel of Associates in Washington are among those missing. Makel could not be reached Wednesday night.

Migyanko said the 2012 records were in the building during the regular township audit, but they since have disappeared.

“Nobody knows how they got out,” he said, adding he doesn’t even have a key to the township building.

Migyanko was appointed to the board following the April resignation of former supervising Chairman Jim Huff.